Defamation goes national

Page Tools

Australia will have uniform defamation laws next year after the
Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, told the states he would no
longer insist on changes to their model code.

The move represents a significant shift from his longstanding
threat to enact national legislation if the states did not bend to
his view on corrections, juries and allowing corporations to
sue.

In a letter to the NSW Attorney-General, Bob Debus, last week,
Mr Ruddock said he remained "hopeful that it will be possible to
resolve these remaining differences".

"Even if that is not possible, however, the Australian
Government will not stand in the way of enactment by the states and
territories of uniform laws by their target date of January 1."

Mr Debus wrote to Mr Ruddock yesterday saying there would be no
change allowing large corporations to sue, or for courts to order
corrections.

Mr Ruddock has accused the states of "30 years of bickering"
which had led to eight different laws. The uniform code will end
so-called forum shopping, under which plaintiffs could sue in any
state or territory in which the matter was published.